First Posted: 4/3/2014

“Hooray!” the children shouted as Miss North Carolina Johna Edmonds entered the Children’s Library in Lumberton on Tuesday. The wonder and excitement on the faces of 300 children as they listened to Edmonds was heart-melting.

Johna raved about her experience with Hooked on Phonics and proudly presented the library with more than $2,000 in donations from the company, including a computer, an iPad, Hooked on Phonics apps and products, and more than 100 books.

After a quick song and wiggle break, every child opened their own copy of “The Cat in the Hat” and read along with Edmonds. The children were delighted when they heard that the books were theirs to keep.

We all danced the “Tooty Ta” and wrapped up the event with a Q-and-A session.

As the children left, the library provided treat bags for each child and they had a chance to take pictures with Miss North Carolina.

It was a special day for the children and would not have been possible without the help from some remarkable community members.

Thank you to Cindy Kern for coordinating the decorations for the platform, and to Tim Taylor, with the city of Lumerton, for setting up a riser. Mayor Raymond Pennington’s introduction was a wonderful way to start the program. Several members of the Chamber of Commerce attended to show their support. Colleen Brown opened the museum to allow our guests to tour the current exhibit.

Thank you to the administrators and teachers at Piney Grove Elementary, Rowland-Norment Elementary, and Green Grove Headstart for allowing your children to attend.

The Hooked on Phonics and Miss North Carolina representatives made the organization of the event a breeze. Library staff members Carmela, Taylor, Lisa, Vivian and Kelly assisted with event preparations. And of course, the event could not have happened without the wonderful Johna Edmonds, who supports literacy and her hometown library with great passion. Thank you to all who participated.

If you love your library, please plan to attend our Patron Appreciation Day on April 14 at 3 p.m. Bingo and light refreshments will be set up in the Lumberton library. National Library Week is the perfect time to remind all library users that our staff is happy to help you and want you to continue using the library. We look forward to spending the afternoon with you.

Also during National Library Week, which runs from April 13 through April 19, all libraries will participate in the Amnesty Food Drive. Bring in a can of food to erase up to $5 of overdue fines. Donate as many cans as you like. Please consider donating even if you do not owe fines. All collected food will be given to Robeson County Church and Community Center for its pantry.

Get out your calendars: The dates for the summer reading program are set. The “Fizz, Boom, Read!” program is open to children ages 4 to 12 years old. Registration is free and begins June 1. The six-week program will run from June 23 until Aug. 1.

During the summer reading program, the Pembroke library will offer a Read-to-Me storytime at 10 a.m. every Monday, followed by the “Fizz, Boom, Read!” program at 11 a.m.

Special presentations include a Family Sing-a-Long with Alina Celeste on June 27 at 2 p.m. and the “Meet the Animals” exhibit from the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on July 21 from 10 a.m. until noon. The museum will also present “Interesting Invertebrates” in Maxton on July 14 at 2 p.m.

Programs also include Tuesdays at the St. Pauls Library at 11 a.m. and Red Springs at 3 p.m.; Wednesdays in Maxton at 11 a.m. and Rowland at 3 p.m.; Thursdays in Fairmont at 11 a.m. and Proctorville at 3 p.m.; and Fridays in Lumberton at 11 a.m.

The Lumberton library will host extra activities, such as crafts and science days, each Monday at 2 p.m. Every Wednesday is Family Movie Day at 3 p.m. and each Thursday will bring an entertaining Read-to-Me storytime at 10 a.m. For a complete list of summer reading programs, visit the library’s website after April 15. Daycares and camps are welcome to attend Read-to-Me storytimes, “Meet the Animal” events, and Family Movie Days. All other programs cannot accommodate groups larger than 10 children.

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Katie Huneycutt is the interim director and youth services librarian of Robeson County Public Library. She can be reached at 738-4859. The library’s website is www.robesoncountylibrary.org